Alice-Miranda Shows the Way (19 page)

S
aturday progressed much the same way as the day before. Millie and Alice-Miranda managed to add more ribbons to their haul, winning individual first and second places in the junior showjumping. Millie beamed; she hadn't expected Chops to beat Bonaparte.

‘Are you all right?' Millie asked Alice-Miranda when they left the ponies and headed off to get some lunch.

‘I'm fine,' Alice-Miranda smiled.

‘You seem like you're a million miles away,' Millie said with a worried frown. ‘You know I can tell when something's bothering you. And today you're bothered.'

Alice-Miranda shook her head. She hated keeping secrets from Millie. They'd shared so much over the past year that it didn't seem right to keep anything from her. But Mr Boots had begged her not to say a thing.

‘Come on, let's go and have a look at this painting of Lucas's. Jacinta said that she wants her mother to buy it for the cottage,' Alice-Miranda said.

Millie giggled. ‘Jacinta would ask her mother to buy a paddle-pop stick if she thought Lucas might have eaten the ice-cream off it,' she declared.

Alice-Miranda shuddered, then grinned at her friend. ‘That's gross, Millie.'

‘But true.' Millie grabbed Alice-Miranda's arm and they headed for the pavilion.

As the girls neared the building, a ruby-coloured Bentley turned into the showground driveway. The flag on the front betrayed its owner's identity.

‘Aunty Gee's here.' Alice-Miranda's face lit up and she tugged Millie towards the car.

A smart-suited chauffeur emerged from the
driver's seat and stood sentry at the back passenger door. Aunty Gee's personal bodyguard, Dalton, hopped out of the front passenger seat and ordered away the curious group of onlookers who'd already gathered. Two more vehicles pulled in and a posse of security men alighted and took up their positions around the vehicle.

‘You know Mrs Parker will be beside herself,' Millie whispered to Alice-Miranda with a glint in her eye. ‘Did she know Aunty Gee was coming?'

‘I'm sure it would have been planned,' Alice-Miranda replied. ‘You know poor Aunty Gee doesn't get to do anything much on a whim.'

Seconds later, just as Millie had predicted, Myrtle Parker raced out of the pavilion towards the car. She must have been attempting to camouflage herself in the flower exhibition; her dress was bursting with blooms and her purple hat resembled an upturned tulip.

‘She'd better not stand still for too long or someone will mistake her for curtains and try to hang her up,' Millie giggled.

Myrtle flounced and preened as she waddled towards the car gripping a large bouquet of roses.

Alice-Miranda and Millie were standing as close to the vehicle as the security men would allow.

Myrtle glared at the pair of them and then sniffed as though she suspected that one of the girls had stepped in something unpleasant.

The chauffeur opened the door and Queen Georgiana stepped out.

‘Oh, Your Majesty, it is an honour to see you again.' Myrtle curtsied so low that Millie wondered if one of the security guards would have to lift her back up.

‘Hello Mrs Parker, it's lovely to see you again too. I presume the show's going well?' The Queen offered Myrtle her gloved hand. Myrtle momentarily wondered whether she should kiss it or shake it. Fortunately she opted for the latter. Myrtle handed Her Majesty the roses, which Aunty Gee dutifully smelled and then passed to her lady-in-waiting, Mrs Marmalade.

‘And
hello
my little lovelies,' Queen Georgiana greeted Alice-Miranda and Millie, who both curtsied too. ‘Oh enough of that, haven't you got a hug for your Aunty Gee?'

The girls rushed forward and were enveloped in Her Majesty's ample bosom.

‘I was hoping to see you two. I hear that your Bonaparte has become quite the good friend to my
Rockstar,' said Queen Georgina. She stepped back to look at the girls. ‘Where is the little man?'

‘He's in the stables down near the arena,' Alice-Miranda replied.

‘I'd like to pop down and say hello, if I may?' Queen Georgiana asked.

Alice-Miranda took her by the hand. ‘Of course, Aunty Gee. Bony would love to see you.'

‘And Chops would love to say hello too,' Millie added. The Queen slipped her other hand into Millie's and together the trio began to walk off.

‘But Your Majesty, we have tea, in the pavilion,' Myrtle Parker called out. ‘And there are people waiting to meet you. It's . . . it's on your schedule.'

Her Majesty turned her head. ‘It's all right, Mrs Parker, don't get angsty, dear. I'll be back soon. I'm afraid Bonaparte has performed something of a miracle and I want to thank him. It's because of him that I have a runner in the Cup tomorrow and one who has a jolly good chance of winning the darn thing. I shan't be long.'

Myrtle Parker let out a noise to rival Bonaparte's best whinny. The crowd drew a collective gasp as Myrtle huffed and blew and stormed back inside, shouting at anyone who dared get in her way.

‘That Mrs Parker's rather highly strung, isn't she?' Aunty Gee commented on the way to the stables.

‘You mean Nosey Parker,' Millie said.

‘Millie, that's unkind,' said Alice-Miranda.

‘Perhaps, but never a truer word was spoken,' said Aunty Gee. She winked at Millie.

Alice-Miranda changed the subject. ‘Are you coming to the ball tonight?'

‘I wouldn't miss it, dear. It's always a lot of fun. And I heard that your Miss Grimm has finally seen sense and is letting all of you girls attend too.'

‘Yes, but we have to be home by 10 pm, otherwise no one will have the energy for the races tomorrow,' Alice-Miranda informed her.

The group reached the stables.

‘Hello there Bonaparte,' said Aunty Gee. She patted the pony's nose and blew softly into his nostrils.

Bonaparte bared his teeth.

‘I see you are just as ill-mannered as my Rockstar. It's no wonder you get on so well,' Aunty Gee observed.

Alice-Miranda clucked her tongue at the naughty pony. ‘Bonaparte Napoleon Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones, behave yourself. You are in the presence of the Queen.'

Millie giggled.

Bonaparte lifted his tail and expelled a volume of gas that might have run the school heating for a month.

‘You're disgusting,' said Alice-Miranda, cringing. ‘I'm so sorry, Aunty Gee. He's not usually this badly behaved.'

‘Don't apologise, dear. Rockstar's twice as bad. I've never known a horse to fart as much as he does.'

Millie roared with laughter. She didn't know what was funnier – the image of Rockstar and his wind or the fact that the Queen had just said the word ‘fart'. When finally her sides stopped heaving she asked Aunty Gee if she'd like to meet Chops, and assured her that he would be much more respectful than his little friend.

‘My
favourite part of the whole night was definitely Mr Plumpton and Miss Reedy doing that ancient Michael Jackson dance,' Jacinta giggled. ‘They must have practised for ages.'

‘You mean “Thriller”,' Millie said.

‘I suppose so. Mrs Howard said that she saw them rehearsing in the gym,' Sloane said.

‘It
was
pretty cute,' said Millie.

‘It was totally embarrassing,' Sloane said with a grimace. ‘But it was worth it to see the look on
Mrs Parker's face. She was so annoyed about them stealing her limelight.'

‘I think they're gorgeous and I can't wait until they get married,' Alice-Miranda piped up.

‘Married!' Jacinta exclaimed. ‘Are you serious?'

‘Well, it's obvious that they're madly in love,' Alice-Miranda said. ‘Perhaps they just need cupid to help things along.'

‘Oh no, what are you thinking now?' Millie groaned.

‘Your mother seemed to be in good spirits,' Sloane commented to Jacinta.

Jacinta pulled a face. ‘Of course she was. Did you see all the attention she was getting from old Hairy Lipp? But at least she didn't abandon me completely – we actually had quite a good talk in the end,' Jacinta admitted.

‘Remember when Mr Lipp had a crush on Miss Reedy when we were doing the play with the Fayle boys?' Millie said. ‘And that suit he was wearing last night. He must go to the same designer as Mrs Parker.'

‘Jacinta and Lucas looked pretty cosy,' Sloane teased.

‘He's so handsome,' Jacinta sighed. ‘He'd better marry me – or else.'

‘Or else what?' Sloane asked.

‘I don't know. Isn't that just what you say?' Jacinta shrugged.

‘What about Aunty Gee? She was dancing up a storm with Professor Pluss and then even Charlie had a spin around the floor with her,' Millie said.

‘She's adorable – and very forgiving. I couldn't believe what Bonaparte did to her this afternoon. He's so naughty,' said Alice-Miranda, blushing at the memory.

Jacinta, Sloane and Millie began to giggle. When Millie had told them all about Bony the windy pony, the three of them had wound up rolling around on the floor holding their sides.

‘Oh no you don't,' came Mrs Howard's voice behind the girls. She was patrolling the halls of Grimthorpe House and having a very difficult time convincing any of her charges to hurry and get ready for bed. ‘Come along, girls, its way past your bedtime and you have to be up early again tomorrow. I for one am dead on my feet.'

‘But it was really funny, Howie,' Millie said, stifling a giggle. ‘You wait until I tell you tomorrow. I guarantee your sides will split.'

‘All right, you can tell me tomorrow. I need a good laugh after the two days I've had.'

‘Goodnight Howie,' said Millie with a yawn as she pushed open her bedroom door.

‘Goodnight Mrs Howard.' Alice-Miranda gave her a wave.

Sloane and Jacinta did the same and the girls disappeared into their bedrooms.

Alice-Miranda wondered what was going on out there in the world around her. She was thinking about Fern and Billy and Alf but her eyes were so heavy she could barely keep them open. She climbed into bed and said goodnight to Millie. For the first time in a long time, every girl in the house was sound asleep before the last light was out.

‘Al
ice-Miranda, wake up.' Mrs Howard gently shook the child. Her eyelids fluttered open and she wondered if she was dreaming. ‘Miss Pepper needs to speak with you.'

‘Miss Pepper?' Alice-Miranda rolled over and looked at the clock beside her bed. It was just after 7 am.

‘It must be important for her to be calling at this hour,' said Mrs Howard as she passed Alice-Miranda her dressing-gown.

The child jammed her feet into her slippers and tiptoed out of the room with Mrs Howard. When they reached the sitting room, Howie passed Alice-Miranda the telephone.

‘Hello Miss Pepper,' the girl spoke into the handset. ‘What do you mean he's gone?' Alice-Miranda's eyes were now wide open. ‘I'll check the stables and call you straight back.'

‘Who's gone, dear?' Mrs Howard asked.

‘Bonaparte!' Alice-Miranda replied. ‘Miss Pepper was allowed to go home from the hospital late yesterday afternoon. After the show Wally took Bonaparte back to Chesterfield Downs and Miss Pepper said that she checked on the horses herself last night. But this morning Bonaparte was gone.'

‘You know what a little fiend he is, dear. He's probably just escaped and decided to come home.' Mrs Howard placed her hand reassuringly on Alice-Miranda's shoulder.

‘I hope so,' said Alice-Miranda anxiously. ‘We have to find him. Rockstar won't run a step without him at the track this afternoon. They've become inseparable.'

Alice-Miranda raced out the back door. In the velvety half-light of morning she could
see the outline of several horses in the paddock beside the stables, but none of them looked like Bonaparte.

She entered the building and was greeted by a soft nicker.

‘Is that you, Bonaparte?' she called, a warm sense of relief flooding her. But as she got closer she realised that it wasn't Bonaparte at all. It was Susannah's pony, Buttercup. Alice-Miranda ran from stall to stall, hauling herself up to check each one, but Bonaparte was nowhere to be found.

The door to the flat upstairs opened and Billy Boots emerged.

‘What are you doing up so early, miss? I'd have thought everyone would be having a sleep-in after last night,' he asked as he bounded down the stairs.

‘Bonaparte's gone,' Alice-Miranda said.

‘But he never came home. Remember, Wally took him back to Chesterfield Downs.' Billy frowned at her, wondering if she might be sleepwalking.

‘I mean he's gone from Chesterfield Downs,' Alice-Miranda said. ‘Miss Pepper telephoned just a little while ago. His stall door was open and he was gone.'

Billy gulped. ‘Oh.'

‘You don't think . . .' Alice-Miranda began.

‘It's not likely. It's not his thing, livestock,' said Billy.

‘Did you speak to Constable Derby yesterday?' Alice-Miranda asked the lad.

‘Yes, he knows what's going on,' Billy said grimly.

She was thinking about Bonaparte and wondering where on earth he could possibly be.

‘I need to phone Miss Pepper and let her know that Bony's not here,' Alice-Miranda said. She remembered there was an ancient wall phone in the tack room and immediately went to make the call.

Evelyn Pepper answered and told Alice-Miranda that she had sent all of her lads off in different directions to check that Bonaparte hadn't decided to take a wander around the farm.

‘What are you going to do?' Billy asked Alice-Miranda when she hung up the telephone.

‘I'll get Millie, and we'll go out on Chops and Stumps to look for the little monster. I know he's clever but I didn't imagine he could open the bolt on his own and escape. That pony!' She shook her head. ‘What about you?'

‘I'm going down to the station. Constable Derby
should start getting some phone calls this morning. I guess we'll just have to wait until Fern gives us the sign and then Constable Derby can make his move,' Billy explained.

‘Well, be careful,' the girl said seriously. ‘That Alf's a brute. It sounds like he could be dangerous.'

‘I can handle Alf,' said Billy. ‘He's not dangerous; he's just a boofhead who thought he could make some extra cash on the side. He didn't expect me to ever stand up to him. We've just got to get the timing right. I can get Chops and old Stumpy ready for you. But you might want to put some proper clothes on.'

Alice-Miranda realised she was still in her gown and slippers. ‘Thanks, I'll go and get Millie.' She scurried off to wake her friend.